FAQs
- What types of customers have you worked with?
General administrative assistance and business support for C-level executives at small companies, small business owners, solo entrepreneurs and independent contractors. I tailor my support services depending on my clients' needs to provide everything from social media assistance to keeping my clients' schedules managed. My clients' needs and imaginations are the only limits to what we accomplish together!
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Following are the key ingredients you must bring to the table to ensure you experience the most fruitful and rewarding benefits of working with an Administrative Consultant. 1. Understand the nature of the relationship. The relationship you have with an Administrative Consultant (or ACE for short) is similar to that which you have with an attorney or accountant or other independent professional. She is not your employee or "hired help." She is an administrative expert, collaborative partner and trusted advisor. Respect her opinions and concerns. Be open to her input and advice. Your best interests and success are her priority. 2. Collaborative partnership. Relationships are a two-way street; your participation is required. In order for it to workindeed, for the magic to happenand for you to get the very best experience and outcomes from it, you, as the client, are an integral part of the equation. If you are absent from the relationship, it won't work and you will end up dissatisfied. 3. Must be comfortable with technology. Just like your attorney or accountant, an Administrative Consultant works from her own offices. Heck, you may never even meet in person. Meetings and consultations are typically held by phone or video chat (e.g., Skype) and email is the primary form of regular communication. You don't need to be a whiz (and you'll learn of all kinds of amazing tech tools and services from your ACE should you work together), but you do need to be comfortable with computers, technology and communicating by email in order to work with an Administrative Consultant. 4. Be present and timely. One of the most important relationships you have in your business is with your Administrative Consultant. The administrative engine she is determined to help you with is critical to your business's success and smooth operations. In order for her to accomplish those objectives, it's vital that you answer questions and provide requested information and materials in a timely manner so that it doesn't hold up your business and objectives or hers. 5. Communication is key. This is especially important in this kind of tech-driven, remote working relationship where we primarily communicate by email. Like you, an Administrative Consultant is not a mind reader. We can get really good at anticipating your needs, tastes and preferences the longer we work together; still, we can't guess or make assumptions. It is better to err on the side of over-communication and be forthcoming with details and expectations. Your Administrative Consultant may have further clarifying questions to make sure everything is understood. 6. Make meetings a priority. Do everything in your power to keep your appointments, show up prepared and cancel with appropriate (not last minute) notice when you can't. Mutual respect of each others' time is a necessity. 7. No dumping. If you disappear for long periods of time and then suddenly show up with a flurry of work requests that you need done "yesterday"... well, that just isn't going to work. An Administrative Consultant has other clients to serve whose needs are as important as yours. Every Administrative Consultant has her own policies and protocols. To work together successfully, you will need to plan ahead, give plenty of lead time (as specified by your Administrative Consultant) and follow her procedures for submitting work so that it can be managed effectively and accomplished in a timely manner to the highest standards. 8. Practice the Golden Rule. Administrative Consultants expect to be treated with the same human dignity and respect with which you expect to be treated. We are deserving of civility and complete sentences. We expect to not be yelled at, grunted at or have orders barked at us. We appreciate "please" and "thank you" as much as you. Clients who are unable to extend common courtesy and mutual respect are not a good fit and will be let go with haste. 9. Maintain professionalism. Difficulties, dissatisfaction, conflicts and misunderstanding can arise in any relationship. Your Administrative Consultant is always interested in your constructive feedback and being given the opportunity to improve or make things right. When communicating upset or complaints, just be sure to keep things professional, not personal. Continue to treat and speak to each other respectfully and humanely. This will go a long way in facilitating communication, being heard and finding resolution. 10. Pay on time without any hassles. Respect cannot exist in the relationship where there is chronic late or nonpayment. You can expect one (or all) of these things to happen when that is the case: a) All work will cease until your account is paid in full; b) you will be required to pay in full up front for all work in the future; and c) you may be let go as a client. 11. Own your business. An Administrative Consultant cannot care more about your business than you do. She is not responsible for ensuring you make money; that's your role. She wants to help and support you in achieving your goals and dreams, and she can if given the opportunity. However, the success or failure of your business is always your responsibility. 12. Vacations and closures. It's important to understand that an Administrative Consultant is not a temp or substitute employee and, thus, does not provide that level of administrative support on a daily basis. What we provide is strategic support in specifically defined support areas. Just as your attorney or accountant (or any business for that matter) is closed on occasion for holidays, vacations, emergencies or other reasons, so, too, will your Administrative Consultant's business. Your AC should give you plenty of notice so that you can plan accordingly. Just know that if you are so dependent upon support that you are unable to take care of things yourself during these intermissions and your entire business comes to a screeching halt without us, what you really need is an employee, not an Administrative Consultant. 13. Proper expectations. Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither will all your administrative needs, burdens and challenges be solved overnight. Recognize that this will be a process. And boy-oh-boy, will it be fun to see these things whipped into shape bit by bit as you continue to work together! 14. Be generous and forthcoming with your praise, feedback and referrals. An Administrative Consultant is a business owner who takes pride and joy in her work and helping clients like you succeed. She's also a person, like any other, who appreciates recognition, a good word and a pat on the back for a job well done (not to mention your referrals and recommendations). She may also ask for your formal feedback at specific intervals throughout the year. This is for your benefit as well as hers and gives you an opportunity to let her know how she's doing, voice any concerns and offer suggestions on how she can better serve you.